A PETITION to persuade the Metropolitan Police Authority not to sell Wealdstone Police Station has been started by Labour's Harrow West MP, Gareth Thomas.

The Edwardian building in High Street only now serves as a base for the borough's Safer Transport Team and Special Constables after its front desk for reporting crimes closed last year in lieu of new, disabled-friendly facilities opening at Harrow Civic Centre in Station Road, Harrow.

Mr Thomas, who started his petition during Monday's visit to Harrow by shadow communities and local government secretary Caroline Flint, said: "Local residents and traders are rightly concerned by the plans to close Wealdstone Police Station which is at the heart of the community.

"I have launched a petition calling on the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who is responsible for the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), to reconsider this decision."

The petition further calls for the Home Office to stump up more money to the Metropolitan Police which has led in turn to a bid to reduce the number of Safer Neighbourhood Team Sergeants across the capital through redeployment and ultimately resignations or retirement.

Mr Thomas said: "It is becoming ever clearer in Harrow that David Camerons decision to cut the police budget by 20 per cent is having a real impact.

"Harrow is one of the safest boroughs in London but the Tory-led Government is putting community safety at risk.

"I'll be campaigning to protect front line police numbers on our streets.

"The message to David Cameron from Harrow is cut crime, not police."

Mr Johnson was directly asked about the future of the police station, whose closure has not yet been rubber-stamped, by Councillor Navin Shah, Labour London Assembly for Brent and Harrow.

He replied: "Let's be clear - the closing of a police station is always a very difficult decision.

"People understandably are reassured by the physical presence of a corner police station.

"But the Met's real estate portfolio is ageing, and modern policing is these days more reliant on resources other than just bricks and mortar.

"Wealdstone Police Station was built in 1905 and was designed to meet policing needs for that era which is not conducive to modern day policing requirements.

"I am assured that the Metropolitan Police and MPS will ensure that the operational needs of Harrow are met prior to any final decision on this police station being made."